Baby bottle aerator



APYE 7, l953 w. E. LAUTERBACH 2,634,011

BABY BOTTLE AERATOR Filed Nov. 2, 1949 2 SHEETS4-SHEET 1 April 7, I9553 w. E. LAUTERBACH 2,634,01

BABY BOTTLE AERATOR Filed NOV. 2, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Apr. 7, 1953 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE BABY BOTTLE AERATOR William E. Lauterbach, Chicago, Ill.

Application November 2, 1949, Serial No. 125,117

Claims. (Cl. 21S- 11) The present invention relates to a bottle aerator and more particularly to an aerator for venting the interior of a nipple-type bottle t0 circumambient pressure without interrupting the dispensing of liquid therefrom.

As is well known, during the dispensing of liquid from` a nipple-type bottle, such as a baby bottle, the decrease in liquid level within the bottle creates a partial vacuum therein, causing the collapse of the nipple, thus seriously hindering the further dispensing of liquid from the bottle.

Various means and procedures have been proposed for venting the interior of the bottle to the atmosphere, including the time honored procedure of removing the bottle from the babys mouth and holding the bottle upright to permit f the entrance of air. This of course interrupts the feeding procedure, and in order to remedy this fault numerous forms of special bottles and nipples have been proposed. However, such special bottles and nipples have not met with wide acceptance for one reason or another, including the expense of the apparatus, the inconvenience involved in its use, the tendency for leakageof the liquid through the openings usually provided for venting purposes, etc.

The present invention now provides an easily employed, simple and inexpensive aerator which may be employed with conventional bottles and nipples, and which permits the venting of the interior of the bottle to circumambient or atmospheric pressure at controlled intervals during the feeding process without the necessity of interrupting the dispensing of liquid therefrom.

More particularly, the present invention provides an improved aerating apparatus including a lever arm having a terminal portion which engages a portion of the nipple overlying the dispensing outlet of the bottle. The yarm is pivoted for movement relative to the bottle, and upon movement thereof, the nipple is locally deformed from contact with the bottle to permit venting of the interior of the bottle to atmosphere.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide an improved, inexpensive, readily employed aerator for a baby bottle.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved baby bottle aerator including means for locally deforming the bottle nipple from sealing engagement with the bottle to vent the interior thereof to atmospheric pressure through the dispensing orice oi the bottle.

It is a further important object of thepresent invention to provide an improved aerator for a bottle provided with a dispensing nipple, the aerator being adapted for use with bottles and nipples of conventional, commerciallyavailable design, and the venting of the interiorof the bottle to atmosphere being yaccomplished without interfering with the dispensing of liquid from the bottle.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved baby bottle aerator including an elongated lever arm -pivoted intermediate its length to the bottle and having a terminal portion for engaging the bottle nipple, with pivoting movement of the-arm relative to the bottle locally deiorming the nipple from engagement with the bottle to vent the interior thereof to atmospheric pressure.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

lOn the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and in section, of a babyt, bottle provided with an yaerator of the present invention; I l.

Figure 2 is a plan elevational view of the ttle of Figure 1; f`

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the bottle of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, side elevational view similar to Figure 1 illustrating the operation` of the aerator to vent theeinterior of the bottle to atmospheric pressure;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a modified form of the aerator of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan elevational view of the embodiment of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a baby bottle provided with an additional modifled form of the aerator of the'present invention; j

Figure 8 is a sectional View taken alongthe plane VIII-VIII of Figure 7; f

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to Figure 7 illustrating a baby bottle yprovided with va further modified form of an aerator;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along plane X-X of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view, with parts broken away and in section, of

the

' a baby bottle provided with still another modiiied form of aerator of the present invention; and

Figure 12 is a plan elevational view of the bottle in Figure 11.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figure 1, reference numeral I refers generally to a conventional baby bottle comprising a body portion of generally hexagonal crosssectional configuration (Figure 3) and an elongated tapering neck portion I2 terminating in a radially outwardlyextending peripheral annular rim I3. It will be understood that the body portion provides an interior cavity ladapted'to receive a body of liquid, such as millgandy that f the neck I2 and the rim I3 provide a dispensing orilce through which liquid may be dispense from the interior of the body portionzl I. Y

An apertured nipple |4 of conventional design is secured to the bottle I0 by means of a terminal, annular, peripheral collar I5 which is interiorly recessed. to` receive the. enlarged'V rim I3.

The nipple l.4.is.preferab1y.made ofrubber or 'other elastomeric substance capable of 'sealingly engaging therim |3andl adjacent portions of the rieckf I2'. f y Thefaerator of the'present invention, as-illustrated inA Figures 1 4,Y inclusive, includes a lbracket havingA opposed` resilient spring arms I8 generally conforming to the cross-sectional shape of the body I I of the bottle mand in close gripping contactY therewith as shown in Figure 3. The extremities off each of the arms I3 may be turned back, as` at I9, to prevent the presence of? sharp terminal edges. Each of the terminal Y arms I3 is formed integrally with a central, up-

standing bight v portion 20 including opposed closely spaced upstanding legs 20ct and ajoining web portion 20h (Figure 3).

An elongated rod-like lever army 2| isrprovided with an intermediate iiat portion` 22 entered be.

tween'v the'u upstanding legs 20a ofr the bight 20 and pivotally secured therein by means of apivot pin or rivet 23 extending through registering apertures formed in the flat portion 22 of the arm. ZI-and' the upstanding opposed walls 26a of tlfiebightv 20. ylit will b e seen from Figure l that the arm 2| extends along the length of the bottle I parallel to the axis of the body portionv I I of the bottle y 'The operation of theY aerator of Figures 1-3,

inclusive, is illustrated in Figure 4 in which it willibe seenthatupon depression ofthe terminal portion 21 of the arm 2|, the arm 2| is pivoted aboutithepin orrivet'23 to elevate the reduced thickness terminal portion 25thereof'. Elevation of thezportion 25 lifts the annular collar'portion H'rofV the nipple I4 from its' sealing engagement with the rim I3 and the interior ofV the'bottle I0 is vented to atmosphere through the dispensing orifice ofthe bottle.

In the second embodiment of applicants inventionas illustrated in Figure 5 of the'drawings, reference numerals identical with those of Figures `l-4, inclusive, indicate identical portions of the bottle, nipple, and bracket. Itwill be noted that in this modification of the invention the aerator is employed in conjunction with a nipple I4 having a radially outwardly extending ear 30 formed integrally therewith. Such an ear 30 is ordinarily provided to aid in the removal of the nipple from the bottle following use.

A modified form of lever arm 3| is employed in the embodiment of Figures Sand, 6. The arm includes an :elongated lever arm proper 3| which is pivoted about :a pivot pin A23 secured in the bracket |1 as hereinbefore described in connection with the embodiments of Figures 1-4. That terminal 'end of the arm 3| overlying the nipple |4 is deformed sharply downwardly to define a dependent portion 32 provided with a terminal extension 33 roughly parallel to the arm 3| and adapted for engaging one side surface of the ear v 30'. A second bifurcated arm or gripping member 34 is provided with spaced legs extending downwardly on. eachY side of the dependingrportion 32 ofthe arm3l, themember 34 being pivotally secured to-the portion 32 bymeans of a pivot: pin 35. f The lower terminalfportion of Yeach of the arms 34 is provided with. an inturned portionf36 adaptedfor engaging the side surface of the ear 30 oppositely engaged bythe portion 33: of.l the arm 32. The upper bight portion 35 joining' the arm of theA member 34 roughly parallels the arm 3| and a leaf-spring 31v is confined betweenthe arms to urge-the bight portionA 34'fromrthe arm 3|, thus pivoting the terminal portions 36f and. 33 into biting engagement with thefear.'

It will bev appreciated 'that operation ofv the f embodiment of Figure 5 isY essentially' the same asV the embodiment of Figures` 1 4, inasmuch as the rotation or pivoting movement! of the arm 3| about. the pin'23 willcause the elevation of the ear 3l). movingthe nipple |.4 away from engagement with thev neck|2 ofthe'bottle "I 0.

In the embodiment ofthe invention shown' in Figures 7 and 8 ofthe drawings,lthe. bracket' I1 has been eliminated and a; diierent means' for causing pivotedy movement, of. a'. lever armi is4 provided. The lever'arm lilv ofk the' embodiment of Figure 7 islessentiallythe` same: as that ofthe embodiment vof .Figures 14.with1 the: arm, including a downwardlyextending*portion` 4| anda terminal portion 42 extending under the lip I5' of. the nipple |4v as` hereinbefore described. A' pivot plate 43xprovides afulcrum for movement of the arm 4B, thezplate havingfa lower arcuate edge 44 (Figure 8) conforming to the 4arcuate exterior surfaceVV ofV the neck I2 and an aperture 45 in spaced relation tothe surface 44v for4 receiving the rod therethrough. 'I'he arcuate bottom edge 44 is also rounded transversely of its length'to permit smooth rocking motion ofthe plate upon the edge.

It will be understood that the operation' of the aerator of. Figures 7 and 8 isessentiallythe same as that hereinbefore described in connection with Figures 1-4 with movement of the arm 40 toward the bottle l0 causing pivoting movement of the arm and the pivot plate 43' about the arcuate edge 44 to elevate the nipple collar las shown inFigure 4.

In the embodiment of Figures 9 and 10, the pivot plate 43 has been eliminated. More particularly, the lever arm 5U is provided with an integrally formed bight portion 5 I which provides a lower, transversely elongated' bearing edge-52 similarly positioned and contoured tothe edge 44 hereinbefore described in connection with the embodiment of Figures 7 andl 8.' Actually, the

- tion beneath the lip I of the nipple I4.

In the embodiment thus seen in Figure 11, the arm 60 extends axially along the length of the bottle I0 as hereinbefore described in connection with the embodiments of the present invention, and the arm may be pivoted by means of a bracket I'I as in the embodiments of Figures 1-6, a pivot plate as in Figures 'I and 8, or an integrally formed pivot frame as in Figures 9 and 10. In any event, the terminal portion of the arm 6I) is deformed outwardly and slightly upwardly as at 6I for insertion through an aperture 62 formed in an ear 63 of the nipple I4. The operation of the aerator of Figure 11 and Figure 12 will be obvious from the operation of the other embodiments of the invention hereinbefore described.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided an improved, extremely simple, readily employed baby bottle aerator adapted for use with conventional, commercially available bottles and nipples. The venting of the interior of the bottle and/or nipple to the atmosphere is accomplished by deforming the nipple from sealing engagement with the neck of the bottle, thus permitting the entrance of air at substantially atmospheric pressures to prevent the formation of partial vacuum within the bottle and the collapse of the nipple. Thus, it is not necessary to interrupt the feeding operation while venting the bottle, nor is it necessary to provide intricately formed relatively expensive, specialized nipples or bottles.

The elongated lever arm extends parallel to the axis of the bottle, so as to be easily grasped by one holding the bottle. Also, the overall bulk of the bottle is not increased materially, thus making the bottle and aerator assembly an easily employed means for feeding a child without the disadvantages heretofore encountered.

In addition to these advantages, it will be seen that a mechanical advantage is obtained by the employment of an elongated lever arm, as shown in each embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings. 'Ihis mechanical advantage makes possible the venting of the interior of the bottle by the application of a moderate pressure to the lever arm, while at the same time permitting the accurate controlling of the extent of deformation of the nipple.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. In combination, a bottle having a neck tapering to a rim defining an orifice, a nipple having a resilient distensible and contractible skirt for engaging said rim to cap said orifice, and an aerator for said bottle comprising an operating arm in engagement with said nipple, a handle joined to said operating arm at an angle to form a bent lever, and bearing means carried intermediate the length of said lever to fulcrum the same pivotally relative to said bottle, said bearing means having a concave bottle-contacting surface lying within the angle between said operating arm and said handle to position said handle in spaced relation to said bottle longitudinally thereof, whereby pivotal movement of said handle toward said bottle will distend a portion of said nipple skirt away from said bottle rim to vent said bottle.

2. In combination, a bottle having a neck tapering to a rim defining an orifice, a nipple having a distensible and contractible skirt for engaging said rim to cap'said orifice, there being an outwardly extending ear formed integrally with said nipple skirt, and an aerator for said bottle comprising an operating arm releasably secured to said ear, a handle joined to said operating arm to form a lever, and bearing means carried intermediate the length of said lever to fulcrum the same pivotally relative to said bottle, said bearing means having a concave surface offset from said lever and in contact with said bottle to position said handle in spaced relation to said bottle longitudinally thereof, whereby pivotal movement of said handle toward said bottle will distend a portion of said nipple skirt away from said bottle rim to vent said bottle.

3. In combination, a bottle having a neck tapering to a rim defining an orifice, a nipple having a distensible and contractible skirt for engaging said rim to cap said orifice, there being an outwardly extending ear formed integrally with said nipple skirt, and an aerator for said bottle comprising an operating arm and a handle joined to form a lever, clamping means secured to said arm and spring-urged to clamp upon said nipple ear, and bearing means carried intermediate the length of said lever to fulcrum same pivotally relative to said bottle, said bearing means having a concave bottle-contacting surface offset from said lever to position said handle in spaced relation to said bottle longitudinally thereof, whereby pivotal movement of said handle toward said bottle will distend a portion of said nipple skirt away from said bottle rim to vent said bottle.

4. In combination, a bottle having a neck tapering to a rim defining an orifice, a nipple having a distensible and contractible skirt for engaging said rim to cap said orifice, there being an outwardly extending ear formed integrally with said nipple skirt, and an aerator for said bottle comprising an operating arm and a handle joined to form a lever, said nipple ear being apertured snugly to receive said operating arm, and bearing means carried intermediate the length of said lever to fulcrum the same pivotally relative to said bottle, said bearing means having a concave bottle-contacting surface offset from said lever to position said handle in spaced relation to said bottle longitudinally thereof, whereby pivotal movement of said handle toward said bottle will distend a portion of said nipple skirt away from said bottle rim to vent said bottle.

5. In combination, a bottle having a neck tapering to a rim defining an orifice, a nipple having a distensible and contractible skirt for engaging said rim to cap said orifice, and an aerator for said bottle comprising an operating arm in engagement with said nipple, a handle joined to said operating arm at an angle to form a bent lever conforming generally to the profile of the bottle, and bearing means carried intermediate the length of said lever to fulcrum the same pivotally relative to said bottle, said bearing means having a concave bottle-contacting surface lying within the angle between said operating arm and said handle to position said handle in parallel spaced relation to said bottle 7 longitudinally' thereof, said. handle being of such length that pivotal movement of said handle against said bottlewill distend al portion of said nipple skirt from said bottlerim to vent said home.

WILLIAM E. LAUTERBACH.

REFERENCES CITED Thel followinglv references areof recordl in the lll of this patent:

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